Box and material for use therein



Aug. 5, 1952 c. D. MATTINGLY 2,605,922

Box ANDv MATERIAL FOR USE THEREIN y Filed May 25,1949' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1ATTORNEYS.

Aug 5, 1952 c. D. MATTINGLY 2,605,922

BOX AND MATERIAL FOR USE THEREIN Filed May 25, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2INVENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1952 Y BX AND MATERIAL Fon USE THEnEmn l f charles D.Mattingly, Wichita, Kans.,assigmrfof one-half to J. Carrol Cuiman,Malvern,Ark.V

Application May 25, 1949, serial'No.' 95,337

My invention relates to an improved4 box and a material for use therein.i

In accordance with the present invention an improved inexpensive boxconstruction is achieved without sacrificing strength or requir ingadditional storage space. Moreover, the box may be constructed of lowcost readily available materials and is simply and rapidly assembled.Further in accordance with the present invention an improved box-formingmaterial capable of being easily handled and stored is provided. Moreparticularly, the box of the present invention uses a corrugatedcardboard side-definmaterial is unrolled and Wrapped between a pair ofspaced cooperating polygonal top and bottom defining members. Thecriss-cross reinforcing wires are then wrapped about themselves to iitsnugly against the corners of the top and bottom members and hold thesame in position.

It is therefore a general object ofthe present invention to provide animproved box construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedside-defining material for use in constructing boxes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedside-defining material for use in constructing boxes and capablel ofbeing rolled up or folded for storage and adapted to be cut to formboxes of any desired number of sides.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light-Weight,inexpensive box construction having a high degree of resistance tostacking and other stresses encountered in use.

rStill another object of the present invention is to provide a boxdefining a good advertising space.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbox having imperforate side walls. v

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inc claims,(01.217-16) vention itself, both as 'to its organization'and mode ofoperation; together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest'be understood by reference to. 'the-following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which: z

Figure 1 is a planyiew of the side-forming material of the presentinvention as cut to Aform a four-sided box; i

Figure 2 `is a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance withthepresent invention; A

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the boxof Figure 2 takenimmediately below the top member as indicated by the lines 3-,3, Figure2; j

Figures 4 and 5 are views-.respectivelyof a-top member for use in thebox of the present invention and a sidefdening member formed a tube toreceive theV toprmember, and;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional through axis-G+S, Figure 2.

Iview Y As shown in Figure 1, the, side-definingjmaterial ofthe presentinvention is formed vof a strip of corrugated cardboard l0. Thisstriplvis wrapped to` form a tube as shown` in Figure when it is desired toformabox. The corrugations Illa, Figure 5, ofthe cardboard sheet `Il).are oriented transversely of the length of the strip and face inwardlyon thetube,` thus providing a smooth exterior surface capable ofreceiving printing. f

The strip l0 is amxed to a series of pairspf transverse Supportmembersvor bars l2.` Each pair of these members is locatedv at thecorner of the resultant box .as shown in Figure 5. vThe portion of thecardboard i0 extending between each pair of support members denes apanel forming a sideof the resultant box. The portions of thecardboardbetween the support members of each pair are folded in thefinal box construction to dene edges. f, f n,

The transverse support members I2 arcattached to thecardboard I0 by,UA-shaped fasteners I2a, each fastener being driven through thecardboard into the corresponding support member. l

The cardboard strip I0 also receives a plurality of longitudinallyextending reinforcing wires,l4. These are affixed to the cardboard byU-shaped staples [4a bentover as required to achieve I` a snugattachment.

Longitudinal wires I4 are-additionallyl kattached Vto the, cardboard l0by the s taplesl. al4c which extend through bars l2.

In addition to the longitudinal' reinforcing this purpose.

wires Il, a pair of criss-crossed wires I6 and I8 extend along thecardboard sheet I0. Each of these wires extends diagonally across eachpanel defined by sheet I0, and in opposite directions across thesuccessive panels. The wires I6 and I8 are oriented in criss-crossrelation so that they extend between the opposed pairs of corners ofeach panel. i

Each of "the criss-crossed Wires' I6. and' I8v ex.- tends beyond thewidth of the sheet I in the region between adjacent panels. Theseregions are indicated at ISa and Illa, Figure 1, and form triangularlyshaped sections.. As will be described in further detail hereafter,these sections overlie the corners of the top and bottom members of thebox to retain these members in place.

Criss-crossed wires I6 and IB are.y attached to the sheet I0 by thestaples ISb and I8b, respectively.

When the box is assembled, the ends of Wires Marev wrappedtogethen as atMb, Figure '5, to

`form abox-defining'tube. Topmember-ZII and bottom member '22 are zthen'tted in place.

Each of. these membersl has-.four outside slats 24, Figure 4, adaptedto't snugly 'against the cardboard ID as indicated at Figure 6. 1 Theslats oriented in one directionextend beyond .the other slats at 24a tobe receivedv on the upper edge of the cardboard I0 as shown ini Figure6. A

4cross slat 26 is provided to maintain the square vshape of the top andbottom members.

As seen best in Figure 6, the lower slatsl 24 'also rest on the ends ofthe corner-deningitransverse membersIZ aixed `to the 'cardboard sheet.These transverse members takeup 'load when the top and bottom membersare urgedltowards each "other, Y' 5 In assembling the boxfthe ends orcriss-cross wires I6 and I8 aretwisted together as-shown at `I`$c andI8c,'Figure*5.1 This dennes a' loop at each corner of the box.v:Afterthe top and bottom members areplaced in position, the loops overeach corner aretwiste'd 'together as shown which the wires I 4, I6 andI8 are aixed and the members I2 are attached. The length necessary forthe desired box c'anthen be cut off `and formed into a tube as shown inFigure 5. i The top and bottom members 20 and 22 are then placed inposition and the sections ISa and I8a twisted tight to form a snug titagainst the corners of the top and bottom members. If the object to becarried is heavy', it may be mounted 'on bottom member 22 and the tubeof Figure 5 slipped over the object to formla' box. Manuv:facture of theside-forming material shown in Figure -1 can be accomplished simplyandeconomically by automatic machinery adapted for Since the material isreadily shipped and stored in the coiled or rolled -condition, a singleinstallation for this purpose may serve many box users. Y

The twisting operation required toforce the extending loops IGa andI8aagainst the corners of the box can be facilitated by providing asuitable tool for-the purpose.

While I have showncriss-'crossed reinforcing members I6 and I8V as roundwires, other suitable material, such as steel strap may be used. These ithe cardboard sheet I0 forms a useful surf-ace for advertising. Theadvertising may, for example, be printed on the roll of corrugatedcardboard before the side-forming material of Figure 1 is made..

The transverse support members I2 are readily made because they are ofidentical dimensions. A convenient material for this purpose is 1A"rotary'cut veneer. Y

The box of the present invention has proven highly successful. The costis about 50 percent less than conventional crates. It is simple andeasy' to manufacture and assemble and light in weight. Yet it has amplestrength to resist all the forces applied during. handling and storage.

The box shown in the figures is of cubical configuration. It will, ofcourse, be evident that other shapes may be formed and that the bottomand top members may be of any cooperating polyagonal shapes.

While I have shown. and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to belimited thereto since I intend by the appended claims to cover allmodifications and alternative constructions as fall within the truespirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure rby Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A coilable assembly for use in forming the side Walls of shippingcontainers characterized by being fastenable to preformed top and bottommembers to provide at least one complete ship-ping lcontainer with theaid of only a pair of pliers, comprising an elongated sheet of ilexiblecardboard having spaced transverse support bars aiiixed to one sidethereof to provide an array of adjacent panels, and a pair ofreinforcing wires extending diagonally in opposite directions acrosssuccessive panels, the wires being in criss-crossed relation on thesuccessive panels and on the side opposite the support bars, each Wireoverhanging the sheet in 'the region adjacent each pair of support bars,whereby when said sheet or a portion thereof is folded to form apolygonal tube having said panels as side walls and with said supportbars on the interior surface, said overhanging wire portions can betwisted together to secure said pre-formed top and bottom members tosaid tube across the corners thereof.

2. A coilable assembly for use in forming the side walls of shippingcontainers characterized by being fastenable to preformed top and bottommembers to provide at least one complete shipping container with the aidof only a pair of pliers, comprising an elongated sheet of corrugatedcardboard having parallel sides and evenly spaced pairs of support barsaixed to one side of said sheet so as to extend thereacross at rightangles to said parallel sides and thereby providing an array of adjacentpanels, and a pair of pliable reinforcing Wires extending diagonally inopposite directions across successive panels, the wires being incriss-crossed relation on the successive panels and on the side oppositethe suppori, bars, said Wire forming loops overhanging the sheet wherethey cross the ends of said support bars, whereby when said sheet isfolded to form a polygonal tube with said panels as side walls and withsaid support bars on the interior surface, said wire loops are caused tooverhang the corners of said tube so that they can be twisted togetherto secure said pre-formed top and bottom members to said tube.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said sheet has secured thereto aplurality of longitudinal reinforcing members on the same side as saiddiagonal reinforcing wires, said longitudinal reinforcing members beingformed of iiexible Inaterial so that said sheet can be coiled.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said sheet has secured thereto aplurality of longitudinal reinforcing members on the same side as saiddiagonal reinforcing wires, said longitudinal reinforcing members beingformed of iieXible material so that said sheet can be coiled.

5. A shipping container, comprising a polyg onal tube having open endsand a plurality of fiat side panels, said tube being composed of aflexible cardboard, transverse support bars affixed to the interiorsurface of said panels at the corners thereof, closure members of thesame dimensions as the open ends of said tube seated on the ends of saidtube, and a pair of reinforcing wires extending diagonally in oppositedirections across successive panels, the wires being in criss-crossedrelation on the outside surface of the successive panels, said wireshaving portions lying across the corners of said tube and the corners ofsaid closure members, said portions being twisted together to clamp saidclosure" members to said tube, whereby said closure members can beremoved to open said shipping container by merely untwisting the wireportions extending over the cornersA of said tube and closure members.

6. A shipping container, comprising a polygonal tube having open endsand a plurality of flat side panels, said tube being composed of a sheetof corrugated cardboard,-pairs of transverse support bars aiiiXed to theinterior surfaces of said panels at the corners thereof, closure memberson the ends of said tube, and a pair of reinforcing wires extendingdiagonally in opposite directions across successive panels, the wiresbeing in criss-crossed relation on the outside surface of the successivepanels, said wires having portions lying across the corners of said tubeand the corners of said closure members, said portions being twistedtogether to clamp said closure members to said tube, whereby saidclosure members can be removed to open said shipping container by merelyuntwisting the wire portions extending over the corners of said tube andclosure members.

CHARLES D. MATTINGLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in theY le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

